AuthorTopic: navajo nation outlaws gay marriage (Read 2868 times)

That's odd. I guess my recollection of Native American religion is on the fritz. The Native Americans used to believe that homosexuals carried powerful medicine and were respected due to their duality of gender.

"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."-- Anne Frank (1929-45), German Jewish refugee, diarist, captured and sent to concentration camp.

(Window Rock, Arizona) The Navajo Nation has outlawed same-sex marriages on its reservation. The Tribal Council voted unanimously in favor of legislation that restricts a recognized union to that between a man and a woman, and prohibits plural marriages as well as marriages between close relatives.

"Men and women have been created in a sacred manner. We need to honor this," said Del. Harriet Becenti.

Critics have said the measure's sponsor, Del. Larry Anderson, was attempting to rewrite cultural history to parallel the clash across the United States between conservative Christians and gay rights activists.

But Del. Lorenzo Curley said Navajo leaders wanted to send a message to young people to respect and live by the tribe's traditional beliefs.

"We are here to defend the foundation of our society. That's what is at stake here," he said.

The Navajo Nation, which has more than 180,000 residents, spans parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Same-sex marriages are not allowed in any of those states.

Last year, the Cherokee National Tribal Council in Oklahoma voted to define marriage as between a man and a woman after a lesbian couple successfully filed for a tribal marriage application.